Ga eul stood at the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and gazed at the huge structure in awe. It had been a week since she had arrived in New York and she had finally decided to pay the famous museum a visit. She walked tentatively up the steps and entered the vast hall of the museum. It was a very busy time in the museum with a lot of people walking around. There were several groups of students having field trips and a couple of older people looking at and appreciating the art works displayed. Ga eul headed towards the concierge and took a map to help her get around. She studied the map for awhile before deciding to head towards a room of paintings that perked her interest based on the description written on the brochure.

Ga eul finally reached the room and entered it excitedly as she glanced around and spotted the beautiful paintings that were hung all around. Thanks to all the art books that Madame So had given her, which she had religiously read for the past couple of months, Ga eul was very much familiar with most of the art works displayed and was able to appreciate them more since she was more knowledgeable about their history and origins.

Ga eul was completely engrossed with a particular painting as she studied the swirls of the paintbrush that the painter had used that she did not notice a man come up beside her.

"It‟s an interesting painting isn‟t it?" The man spoke up causing Ga eul to jump in surprise. She glanced towards her right and found a young man with blond hair and blue eyes standing beside her. He seemed to appear to be around her age. Normally Ga eul would have been wary talking

to complete strangers but this man exuded a peaceful aura that made Ga eul comfortable around him.

"Yes, I love how the painter used his brush strokes making the picture seem ethereal." Ga eul commented as she gazed back at the painting.

"You seem to know a lot about painting." The young man commented. "Are you an artist?"

Ga eul blushed at his question. "No, I‟ve just read a lot of art books, that‟s all." Ga eul said shyly.

The young man smiled at her. "I‟m Warren Hunter by the way." He said as he held out his hand for a handshake.

"I‟m Chu Ga eul." Ga eul replied as she grasped his hand with her own.

"Do you live here in New York?" He asked curiously.

"No, I‟m just here for a visit. How about you?" Ga eul replied.

"I‟m a true blue New Yorker. I was born and raised here." Warren said with a smile. "How do you like the city so far?" He inquired.

Ga eul was silent for awhile as she contemplated on what to say. "It‟s very interesting." She finally said. "I like how different it is from Korea where I came

from. I love Central Park and just walking around the streets has given me a lot of new discoveries and insights about your culture."

"I know. New York is interesting in that way. The people here are very diverse and you would really meet people from all walks of life." Warren commented.

"How long would you be staying here?"

"I‟ll be here for a month. I just arrived last week." Ga eul replied.

"I guess that would give you time to really roam around the city. If you want I can show you around." Warren offered as he gave Ga eul a warm smile. "Did you come here with someone?"

"No, it‟s just me. My husband is a bit busy from work and couldn‟t leave the country." Ga eul answered with a sad smile as she thought about Yi Jung.

"That‟s too bad. What does your husband do?" He asked curiously.

"He runs a museum back in Korea but he‟s really a potter by profession." Ga eul said proudly.

"A potter?" Warren‟s ears perked up with interest. "I‟m guessing he‟s the one who got you interested with the arts. What‟s your husband‟s name if you don‟t mind me asking?"

"So Yi Jung" Ga eul replied and she felt her cheeks heating up. She had been married to Yi Jung for six months but even until now she still couldn‟t help but blush everytime she referred to him as her husband.

Warren‟s eyes widened in surprise, it seems as if he had recognized Yi Jung‟s name. "Your husband is So Yi Jung?" He asked in awe. "He‟s one of the most talented artists in Korea. He‟s a known prodigy in pottery making since he successfully made a name for himself at such a young age."

Ga eul‟s jaw dropped in surprise. She knew that Yi Jung was a great potter and he was extremely well known in Korea but it had never entered Ga eul‟s mind that he could be popular in other countries as well.

"You know him?" She asked in surprise.

"Well, I don‟t know him personally." Warren answered with a small smile. "But I have certainly heard a lot about him. You‟re husband is well known in the art world. I am an artist myself, a sculptor that is."

"I never realized he was that popular." Ga eul commented as she tried to take in the recent revelation that her husband was more popular than she had thought he was. "I guess to me he‟s just always been Yi Jung."

"Looks like both of you are very close. How long have you been married?" Warren asked.

"We‟ve been only married for six months but we‟ve been good friends for seven years before we got married." Ga eul replied.

"Looks like you‟ve built a strong foundation for your relationship. I‟ve heard that marriages have a good chance of working out if the couple had started out as friends." Warren commented. "Me and my wife had been married for three years but we‟ve been friends since kindergarten."

"Oh that‟s wonderful!" Ga eul exclaimed. "You‟re childhood sweethearts" She said dreamily. The hopeless romantic in her was swooning at that. It was such a wonderful love story. "Have you always known that you love her?" She asked curiously.

"Actually, it took me awhile to realize that I loved her." Warren admitted sheepishly. "I think we were already in college when I finally came into my senses. I had been involved in one failed relationship after the next and couldn‟t figure out what I was doing wrong. Finally I realized that I was looking at all the wrong places and that the one that I had been looking for was right in front of me all along."

Ga eul could feel her eyes tearing up as she listened to Warren‟s story. She couldn‟t help but think how similar his story was with hers and Yi Jung‟s. The only difference about it was that Warren‟s story had ended with a happy ending while her story still had an uncertain future ahead.

"That‟s a beautiful story Warren. I can‟t wait to meet your wife." Ga eul said with a wistful smile.

"Why don‟t we go out for lunch some time? I‟m sure you guys would hit it off. I‟ll give you my number and you can give me a call when you‟re free." Warren suggested.

"That‟s a great suggestion." Ga eul agreed excitedly. She was happy to be finally making friends.

That night Ga eul was clearing up the dishes after having dinner. She glanced at the watch and checked the time. Yi Jung would be calling in awhile. Eversince their conversation at Central Park, Yi Jung had started calling Ga eul regularly usually during the evenings. Ga eul had always looked forward to these

phonecalls as it had lessened her loneliness quite a bit. It was true that she still missed Yi Jung very much but at least hearing his voice every night had eased the pain a little. Just as she was putting the last dish away, her phone rang and Ga eul rushed to answer it.

"Yeboseyo" She answered breathlessly.

Yi Jung‟s laugh was heard from the other line. "Missed me Ga eul? Looks like you couldn‟t wait to talk to me." He teased her.

If Yi Jung was standing in front of her she would have stuck out her tongue childishly at him. Yi Jung could be so annoying sometimes. "Yah, Yi Jung stop teasing me!" Ga eul exclaimed.

Yi Jung chuckled in response. He did enjoy having Ga eul worked up. He loved teasing her all the time in order to find out how her reactions would be. He had always found her reactions so adorable.

"How was your day Yi Jung?" Ga eul asked as she tried to change the subject before Yi Jung could think of teasing her any further.

"It was pretty tiring." Yi Jung said. "We‟re trying to acquire some pottery pieces from the 17th century and the paper work is killing me."

"That‟s too bad." Ga eul remarked sympathetically. She wanted so much to reach out and give him a hug. She had always been there for him everytime he had a stressful day and it was killing her right now that she could not be there physically to support him and make him feel better. "How can I help you?" She asked in concern.

"No need to worry about it Ga eul, just enjoy your trip. You don‟t have to worry about matters concerning the museum. Omma is giving me a hand since this is a delicate acquisition for us." He assured her. "Anyway, tell me about your day?"

"Oh, I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art today." Ga eul recounted excitedly.

"That‟s good" Yi Jung replied approvingly. "It‟s one of the best museums. How did you find it?"

"It was very beautiful and all the art pieces were very interesting. I think I spent my entire day there just looking and making my way through all of the exhibits." Ga eul said. "Oh, and by the way…" Ga eul added.

"What is it Ga eul?" Yi Jung asked curiously.

"I met someone today and he‟s really nice." Ga eul said enthusiastically as she remembered her meeting with Warren. She was very excited in telling Yi Jung

about the first friend that she had made that she did not notice Yi Jung‟s sharp intake of breath.

"You met someone?" Yi Jung said in a distressed tone but Ga eul was too fired up about her story to notice.

"Yes" Ga eul confirmed. "He‟s a sculptor and I met him at the museum. His name‟s Warren Hunter and he‟s really very friendly. I think he‟s the same age as me. He accompanied me the whole day at the museum and shared a lot of facts about most of the art pieces."

"I could do that too Ga eul." Yi Jung responded defensively.

Ga eul gave a small laugh. She didn‟t seem to notice Yi Jung‟s distress. "I know Yi Jung. I‟m sure both of you would have a lot in common."

"What does he look like?" Yi Jung asked warily. He wasn‟t very comfortable with the way Ga eul was talking about this Warren guy.

Ga eul was surprised with Yi Jung‟s question but answered him anyway. "Well, he has blond hair and blue eyes and I think he‟s around six feet."

Yi Jung was quiet so Ga eul decided to continue with her story. "He offered me to give me a tour around New York."

"He what?!" Yi Jung shouted.

"Is there something wrong Yi Jung?" Ga eul asked innocently.

Yi Jung took short labored breaths as he tried to calm down. No need to be over reacting. He reminded himself. But he was starting to feel numb all over and a

headache was starting to form.

When Yi Jung did not respond Ga eul continued on. "He invited me for lunch and he said he‟s going…"

"I have to go Ga eul." Yi Jung interrupted while Ga eul stopped in surprise. What‟s wrong with Yi Jung? Ga eul wondered to herself.

"Are you okay Yi Jung?" Ga eul asked tentatively.

"I‟m fine Ga eul. I just remembered that I forgot to finish something for the museum and it‟s needed by tomorrow. I‟ll just call you again." He said as he tried

to act normal as possible.

"Okay Yi Jung" Ga eul said sadly. She was disappointed that their conversation was cut short.

When Yi Jung had finally put down the phone Ga eul wondered what has gotten over her husband. Why did he end the call so abruptly? She was just about to

tell him that Warren was bringing along his wife during the lunch and she couldn‟t wait to meet her. Oh well, maybe there really was an emergency at the

museum. Ga eul sighed as she looked out the window of her penthouse apartment. It looks like she has to wait again until tomorrow before she could hear her

husband‟s voice again.